Alex Hallam scored Emley’s goal in the FA Vase defeat to Jarrow Roofing
AFC Emley’s FA Vase hopes sank without trace as Jarrow Roofing recovered from a terrible start to win 3-1 at the Welfare Ground, writes James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson).
Emley looked full value to go through to the third round after a brilliant opening 20 minutes that saw Alex Hallam give them the lead.
But, a Dean Nicholson penalty allowed Jarrow to level and two goals from Stephen Young secured the visitors a memorable victory and a disappointed Emley manager Darren Hepworth said: “We had a super start. There was a good tempo and we pressed them really well and got ourselves in front.
“We moved the ball in a great way, but we had the setback when they got the penalty. That’s when we stopped doing all the good things and as a consequence it has cost us today.
“I think Jarrow deserved it, certainly over the 90 minutes. We talked in the dressing room about individual mistakes and the second goal we conceded was a poor mistake and we should have dealt better with that situation than we did.
“The third goal in the second half totally took the wind out of our sails and it was too much of a mountain to climb. Credit to Jarrow they defended with real purpose and they were really well-organised and deserved to win.
“In the last 15 minutes we changed the system and went for it. We just couldn’t find a way through. It would have been interesting if we had managed to get something in the last ten minutes.”
Alex Hallam runs to Doran Jordan after scoring
Emley reached the Fourth Round of the Vase last season and Hepworth had been hoping to achieve a similar feat and in the early stages the script was going to plan.
Emley had made an electric start and Steven Kenworthy was the man who opened the door for the first goal. The experienced striker turned his marker and cut the Jarrow defence open with pass to Hallam.
Hallam, just inside the penalty box, kept his composure and slid the ball into the bottom corner past a helpless Daniel Regan.
Anthony Leech was deemed to have handled the ball
Emley pressed for a second goal and Michael Tunnacliffe came close with an attempt. But, the failure to score again proved costly as Jarrow gradually became the better side.
When goalkeeper Adam Lawlor spilled a cross which then led to Stuart Nicholson’s shot been cleared off the line by Tom Brown, the first Jarrow warning flare was there for all to see.
The equalising goal on 25 minutes was fortunate. Referee Jason Knowles, who had an otherwise superb game, harshly deemed that Anthony Leech had handled the ball and gave the penalty. Stopper Lawlor guessed the right way, but Nicholson’s spot kick had too much power on it.
Emley then collapsed and with half-time in sight, Jarrow scored again. The home side failed to deal with another cross and Young was there to score.
Whilst at that point the game was far from lost, Emley then conspired to create their own downfall with more poor defending ten minutes into the second half. Sam Jerome allowed Jarrow captain Dan Kirkup’s long-ball go over his head which triggered Lawlor to come racing out of his box and into no man’s land. Striker Young beat the goalkeeper to the ball and went past him before sending the ball into the empty net from 25-yards.
The goal was decisive as Emley did not have anything left in the tank to mount a comeback of Wigan Robin Park proportions. A late Tunnacliffe shot flew over the crossbar, but Jarrow goalkeeper Regan never had to make a save as Jarrow comfortably held-on.
AFC Emley: Lawlor, T Brown, Brook, Leech, Jerome, Sykes (captain), Tunnacliffe, Jordan (Ingham 72), Kenworthy (Stewart 72), Hallam, Schofield (A Brown 61). Subs unused: Steers, Senior.
Jarrow Roofing: Regan, Carson, Marshall, Reay, Myers, Kirkup (captain), S Nicholson, Gardener, Young, Graham, D Nicholson (Davison 60). Subs unused: McBride, Appleby, McDonald.
Referee: Jason Knowles
Attendance: 114
Man of the match: Dan Kirkup (Jarrow Roofing)